Kentucky Derby Maiden Watch: Giant win for Cherokee Nation

Eight years ago, Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert saddled February maiden winner Justify to win the Kentucky Derby (G1) and, ultimately, sweep the Triple Crown.

Since 1934, Justify is the only Derby winner to post a maiden victory in February of his three-year-old year; all other Derby winners in that timeframe scored maiden wins in January or as two-year-olds. But Baffert’s Cherokee Nation, who broke his maiden in spectacular fashion last Friday, may have the talent to emulate Justify’s rare feat.

Cherokee Nation

Unlike Justify, who hadn’t raced prior to his February debut, Cherokee Nation has already started half a dozen times. The $1.15 million yearling acquisition raced three times as a juvenile and showed flashes of talent. In a one-mile maiden special weight on Oct. 13 at Santa Anita, he finished second by a nose against Mr. A. P. while pulling 12 3/4 lengths clear of the third-place finisher. Mr. A. P. subsequently ran second in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1), flattering Cherokee Nation’s form.

Unfortunately for Cherokee Nation, he struggled in his next few starts. He stepped up in class for the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) on the Road to the Kentucky Derby and finished fifth after running into early traffic trouble. In another one-mile maiden special weight at Santa Anita, he broke poorly before closing ground into fast finishing fractions to run second by half a length. Then, in the Robert B. Lewis (G3) on the Derby trail, a crowded start left him off the pace in sixth place, and he passed only a single rival to finish fifth.

Cherokee Nation put all those troubles behind him when returning to the maiden ranks for a one-mile maiden special weight at Santa Anita on the penultimate day in February. This time, he got off to a fair start and pressed fractions of :22.64 and :46.19 in second place. He took over the lead through six furlongs in 1:09.91, then blazed his final two furlongs in :12.29 and :12.30 to draw clear and dominate by 10 lengths.

Any way you slice it, this was a massive performance. Cherokee Nation hit the wire in the fast time of 1:34.50 and appears to have turned a corner. The Daily Racing Form reports the April 4 Santa Anita Derby (G1) is next on the agenda for Cherokee Nation, and a top-two finish in that Road to the Kentucky Derby qualifier should secure Cherokee Nation a spot in the Kentucky Derby starting gate.

Fancy Fairlane

Another notable maiden winner with possible classic aspirations is Fancy Fairlane. The Greg Foley-trained Triple Crown nominee shrugged off a 2 1/2-month layoff to win a six-furlong maiden special weight on Sunday at Oaklawn Park.

Coming off a runner-up finish to future Lecomte (G3) winner Golden Tempo on Dec. 20 at Fair Grounds, Fancy Fairlane had no trouble securing victory in his second start. The gelded son of McKinzie tracked fast splits of :21.40 and :44.99 in third place before taking over to triumph by 4 3/4 lengths in 1:09.62.

Gethsemane

The third time was the charm for Gethsemane. After finishing fifth in his first two starts at Fair Grounds, a change of scenery to Oaklawn Park unlocked a winning performance from the son of Knicks Go in a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight on Sunday.

With five-time Eclipse Award-winning jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. in the saddle for trainer Brad Cox, Gethsemane rated in fifth place through splits of :23.51 and :48.17 before steadily advancing to score by 1 1/4 lengths in 1:44.83. He isn’t currently nominated to the Triple Crown, but perhaps that will change before the next deadline.

Albus

At Tampa Bay Downs, Triple Crown nominee Albus broke through with a sharp win in a one-mile and 40-yard maiden special weight on Friday.

Fourth and third in his first two starts in Kentucky, Albus found the competition in Florida more manageable. He tracked splits of :24.23 and :47.91 in second place, took over through six furlongs in 1:12.72, and then powered clear to dominate by 6 3/4 lengths in 1:39.91.

Riley Mott trains the son of the accomplished sprinter Yaupon.

Steel

Could Triple Crown nominee Steel make a late run at the Road to the Kentucky Derby? While perhaps unlikely, it’s not inconceivable after the son of Tapit rallied late to win his debut in a one-mile maiden special weight on Saturday at Gulfstream.

The Bill Mott trainee failed to show any early speed, trailing the field by as many as 10 1/4 lengths through the first half of the race, which elapsed with fractions of :23.66 and :46.45. But as the pace decelerated, Steel gobbled up ground, gaining 3 1/2 lengths through the final furlong alone to prevail by a nose in 1:39.40.

Lincoln’s Law

Another notable debut winner on Saturday at Gulfstream was Lincoln’s Law. The son of Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) winner Liam’s Map got started in a six-furlong maiden special weight, and after racing no more than one length behind fractions of :22.34 and :45.64, he drew clear to triumph by 2 1/2 lengths in 1:10.44.

Lincoln’s Law isn’t nominated to the Triple Crown, but the Philip Bauer trainee looks like a promising prospect with upside for improvement.

Top maiden winner of the week: Cherokee Nation

Honorable mention: Fancy Fairlane